A RECORD crowd turned out on a sunny Sunday for The Fernhurst Revels to crown the May Queen, which has been an annual village tradition for more than 100 years.

In a ‘first’ for Fernhurst, vicar Reverend Nick Haigh not only led the May Day prayers, but also blessed his daughter, Erin, as the new queen, who proceded through the village to the recreation ground on a decorated float,

She was accompanied by her attendants Ella Vigar, Martha Shepherd, Naomi Braithwaite and Bethany Mariner, her page boys – Callum Wooldridge and Jordon Mariner – and her crown bearer Neve Marston with garland bearers Lily Skelton and Cecily Wright.

Seated behind in an open-top classic car were the previous May Queen – Daisy Skelton – and her attendant, Jenny Melia.

Jack Butlin, dressed as St George, found favour with his queen by dispatching the dragon and Fernhurst Primary School pupils performed a Maypole dance.

The theme for this year’s fancy dress competition was ‘The Four Seasons’. Other highlights included a display of more than 70 classic cars and tractors, archery with the Petersfield Bowmen, a ‘live bees’ observation box, treasure hunts, tombola, silent auction and bric-a-brac, with music by the George Regis Jazz Band.

Junior visitors also enjoyed face painting, henna tattoos, bobbing for apples, riding the mini-train, and Laser Tag.

“It was perfect weather and I have never seen so many people, it was a record turnout,” chairman Heather Bicknell said. “The bar sold out of beer and nearly sold out of Pimm’s. There were still people sitting on the green at 6pm after it was over.

“Fernhurst Revels is a platform to raise money for the community. Any profits we make are given back to the village and organisations have their own stalls. It’s a major fundraiser for everyone. I’d like to thank everyone who supported us and all the volunteers for making it such a success. It was just fabulous.”